BILL NUMBER: AB 1062	CHAPTERED  09/15/99

	CHAPTER   392
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 15, 1999
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   SEPTEMBER 15, 1999
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 26, 1999
	PASSED THE SENATE   AUGUST 23, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   AUGUST 17, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   JULY 7, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   JUNE 22, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   JUNE 14, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   APRIL 27, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   APRIL 13, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Margett
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Cardenas, Havice, Leach, Longville,
Robert Pacheco, Steinberg, and Washington)
   (Coauthors:  Senators Alpert and Vasconcellos)

                        FEBRUARY 25, 1999

   An act to add Chapter 4.1 (commencing with Section 56375) to Part
30 of the Education Code, relating to special education.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1062, Margett.  Special education.
   Existing law prohibits a diploma, certificate, or other document,
except transcripts and letters of recommendation, from being
conferred on a pupil as evidence of completion of a prescribed course
of study or training, or of satisfactory attendance, unless the
pupil has met the standards of proficiency in basic skills prescribed
by the governing board of the high school district, or equivalent
thereof.  Existing related regulations require the award of a diploma
to an individual with exceptional needs who meets public agency
requirements for completion of a prescribed course of study and
adopted proficiency standards.
   This bill would authorize the award of a certificate or document
of educational achievement to an individual with exceptional needs
who meets certain criteria.  The bill would also require that an
individual with exceptional needs who meets the criteria for a
certificate or document of educational achievement is eligible to
participate in any graduation ceremony and any school activity
related to graduation in which a pupil of similar age without
disabilities would be eligible to participate.
   The bill would require the Advisory Commission on Special
Education, on or before July 1, 2000, to report to the State Board of
Education, the Superintendent, the Legislature, and the Governor on
the practice of awarding certificates or documents of educational
achievement and diplomas to individuals with exceptional needs.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares that individuals
with exceptional needs are not being appropriately recognized when
they complete their schooling by means of an alternative course of
study, or when they satisfactorily meet the goals and objectives in
their individualized education program, or have satisfactorily
attended high school, participated in the instruction prescribed in
their individualized education program and have met their
individualized education program transition plan.
   (b) The Legislature further finds and declares that individuals
with exceptional needs are often excluded from participation in
graduation ceremonies and related activities even though they have
achieved or completed what was prescribed in their individualized
education program during their high school years.
   (c) It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature that Chapter
4.1 (commencing with Section 56375) be added to Part 30 of the
Education Code to recognize the educational achievement or completion
of individuals with exceptional needs when they complete high school
and allow these individuals to participate in graduation ceremonies
and related activities along with their nondisabled peers.
  SEC. 2.  Chapter 4.1 (commencing with Section 56375) is added to
Part 30 of the Education Code, to read:

      CHAPTER 4.1.  RECOGNITION FOR EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT OR
COMPLETION OF PROGRAM

   56375.  Notwithstanding Section 51412 or any other provision of
law, a local educational agency may award an individual with
exceptional needs a certificate or document of educational
achievement or completion if the requirements of subdivision (a),
(b), or (c) are met.
   (a) The individual has satisfactorily completed a prescribed
alternative course of study approved by the governing board of the
school district in which the individual attended school or the school
district with jurisdiction over the individual and identified in his
or her individualized education program.
   (b) The individual has satisfactorily met his or her
individualized education program goals and objectives during high
school as determined by the individualized education program team.
   (c) The individual has satisfactorily attended high school,
participated in the instruction as prescribed in his or her
individualized education program, and has met the objectives of the
statement of transition services.
   56376.  An individual with exceptional needs who meets the
criteria for a certificate or document described in Section 56375
shall be eligible to participate in any graduation ceremony and any
school activity related to graduation in which a pupil of similar age
without disabilities would be eligible to participate.  The right to
participate in graduation ceremonies does not equate a certificate
or document described in Section 56375 with a regular high school
diploma.
   56377.  It is not the intent of the Legislature by enacting this
chapter to eliminate the opportunity for an individual with
exceptional needs to earn a standard diploma issued by a local or
state educational agency when the pupil has completed the prescribed
course of study and has passed the proficiency requirements with or
without differential standards pursuant to Section 51215.
   56378.  On or before July 1, 2000, the Advisory Commission on
Special Education shall, pursuant to Section 33595, study and report
to the State Board of Education, the Superintendent of Public
Instruction, the Legislature, and the Governor on the practice of
awarding certificates or documents of educational achievement or
completion and diplomas, as appropriate, to individuals with
exceptional needs.  The report shall contain recommendations for
improving the system of recognition for educational achievement or
completion of studies to individuals with exceptional needs.
